This Old Man (Books with Holes (Sagebrush))
Pam Adams
This Old Man (Books with Holes (Sagebrush))
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Pam Adams
The text is written at a 2nd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
This book proves that old men can be the stars of the show — especially when they wear bright, colorful clothes and sing a fun counting song! Each page hides a surprise peek of the next old man, making counting exciting and playful. It's not just a song; it’s a colorful adventure through numbers that you'll want to sing again and again.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This playful picture book brings the traditional counting song 'This Old Man' to life with vibrant illustrations and interactive die-cut holes that reveal the next character. Ideal for early readers aged 5 to 8, it encourages counting skills and engagement with rhythm and rhyme. The book is gentle, entertaining, and promotes early literacy without any concerning content.
Why we rated This Old Man (Books with Holes (Sagebrush)) 7C
This Old Man (Books with Holes (Sagebrush)) is written at a Level 2 reading level across 16 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, This Old Man (Books with Holes (Sagebrush)) works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate This Old Man (Books with Holes (Sagebrush)) as 7C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, This Old Man (Books with Holes (Sagebrush)) explores humor, counting, folk songs, early literacy, and interactive picturebook — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about humor, counting, folk songs.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
7C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780613768986
- Pages
- 16
- Publisher
- Turtleback Books
- Published
- March 1989
- Type
- Fiction